Cooling system



A Sept. 23, 1930. F. G. ARRlNGTQN COOLING SYSTEM Filed March 5,- 1927 2Sh'ets-Sheet 1 n attain/aq! sept. z3, 1930.

F. G. CARRINGTQN COOLING' SYSTEM Filed Maren 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Shoot 2Patented Sept. 23, 1930- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK G.CARRINGTON, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO FERRIC ENGINEER- INGIlCOMPANY, F ANNISTON, ALABAMA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COOLINGApplication filedl March 3,

This invention relates in general to a cooling system and moreparticularly relates to a cooling system for a centrifugal castingapparatus.

Any annular object may be cast by a centrifugal, or rotary, castingprocess, and, while I shall illustrate and describe this 'invention withparticular reference to a pipe casting operation, it is to be understoodthat the extent of this invention in no Way limited to its applicationto the casting of pipe. The

` cooling system may be employed wherever pouring trough metal isdeposited longitudinally -in a mold, quite regardless of the objectcast.

The rotary process, in general, comprises depositing molten metal in arevolving mold. The rotation of the mold generates centrifugal forceWhich serves to distribute and maintain the metal upon the interiorsurface of the mold. This forms a tubular shell which, after hardening,may be removed from the mold.

The fluidity or solidity of the metal is largely dependent upon itsheat.- As proper distribution of the metal 'in the mold is impossible ifthe metal is not in a fiuid state, and inasmuch Yas .an excess of heatinjures the metal, the importance of adequate heat control in thisprocess is apparent.

Three general types. of mold are employed, each type requiring adifferent cooling treatment.

In the first type of mold, metal is poured just Within one end anddistributed longitudinally by manipulation of the mold.

lIn the second type the metal is distributed substantially the length ofthe mold by pouring it over the side of a so-called dump trough, whichis rotated upon its longitudinal axis.

In the third type of mold a so-called end is employed over which themold telescopes. They rotation of the mold and relative movement of thetrough and mold cause the metal to build up within the mold insuccessive spiral columns. These columns coalesce, formi-ng a tube ofsubstantiallyuniform thickness.

While this invention maybe adapted for use in connection with any of theabove types,

SYSTEM 1927. seriai No. 172,355.

it particularly relates to the third type of tei-nal heat of the metalis absorbed at a rapld .ilate by the mold, rendingthe metal less Themetal is cooled to such an extent lthat on boing poured in the-metalmold it becomes viscous almost immediately upon touching the mold, andrapidly solidifies. The smooth and even tubular formation cannottherefore be obtained merely by reason of the generated centrifugalforce, as is the case in the employment ofthe other types of molds, butthe metal must be so deposited that a minimum flow of the metal isnecessary to obtain a perfect tube.

One of the advantages of the third type of molds over the others is thatthe mold may be used for a larger number of operations. But in order toachieve this longevity it is necessary to counteract the excessive heatabsorbed by the mold, heretofore mentioned.

Various methods have been adopted to effect this cooling, most of whichhave taken the form of Water jackets surrounding the mold. Also somehave consisted in sprinkling the exterior surface of the mold With acooling medium. But regardless of the form of this cooling, there hasresulted a sudden chilling of the metal upon its being poured in themold. In the system previously employed, in order to accomplish anyeffective cooling it has been necessary to cool the mold before themetal is poured. Even if the cooling is commenced at the moment themetal begins to pour, there is a portion of the mold which Aisprematurely cooled. The pouring is usually started at the bell end ofthe pipe and if the commencement ofthe pourmg is concomitant, it will benoted that the spigot end will be exposed to the cooling during thewhole time that the metal is being poured longitudinally of the mold andwithout any counteraction, such as molten metal on its interior surface.

Quite aside from the chilling at the spigot end Which results from sucha\ process, there is a difference in texture along the length of thepipe, for variance plunger is operated by a rod 22, which is attached toa support 23 on a truck 24., This truck also contains a ladle 25 whichdischarges molten metal into a pouring trough 26. This trough issupported on the truck 24 and extends within the mold, pouring from itsspout 27 the molten metal 28'longitudinally on the interior wall of themold. As the truck 24 rolls, by means of Wheels 29, on a track 31, thetrough moves axially in the mold. At the Sametime the plunger will bemoved by the rod 22 in the dispersing pipe 14, and in doing so thelength of the pipe which is in operation varies.

'Ihe trough 26 is Withdrawn from the mold during the pouring operation,effectingV a spiral deposition of the molten metal. It will be observedthat in Fig. 1 the length of the rod 22 is such that'the plunger 21 isVmaintained directly above the spout 27 of the trough. Consequently onlythat portion of the mold which contains Within its shell oured metal iscooled, and the cooling efect, because of the special relationship of 25the plunger 21 and the end of the pouring trough, is exactlycoincidental. The mold is not sprayed or sprinkled with the coolingmedium until there has molten metal, yet all tains metal is cooled. onthe exterior of the the moment metal is mold, and the cooling valve 19cuts olf the dium. In Fig. 2 there is shown the arcuate formation of thesupport member l2, but it is of course not necessary that the member beof this particular shape. An enlarged portion at its free end forms aneye 28 in Which the pipe is held. While only one dispersing pipe isshown, there may be a plurality employed, each Working upon the sameprinciple applied to the single pipe described.

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to cool the mold beforemolten metal is deposited Within it, as shown in Fig. 3. In this casethe rod 22 is shorter than the trough, Which causes the plunger 21 toprecede the spout in the longitudinal movement along the mold. Theextent should precede the trough'depends upon the conditions of thecasting operation. With the arrangement set forth in Fig. 3, eachportion of the mold is cooled before metal is deposited on its interiorsurface.

Or it may be desirable under peculiar conditions to have the moltenmetal poured in a mold that has not been subjected to any artificialcooling and then, after t-he metal has been imposed on the interior, tosubject the mold to additional cooling. rl"he apparatus shown in Fig. 4elfects such a cooling. It Will be observed that the spout of the troughprecedes the plunger 21 along the length of the mold.

been deposited within it of the mold which con- 30 mold is commenced atdeposited Within the is continued until the supply of cooling me-Cooling of any point to which the plunger The extent of this precedencewill be governed by the conditions of the casting operation.

From the foregoing, yit can be seen how this invention overcomes theVdiculties inherent in .cooling systems heretofore used. Each portion ofthe mold is subjected to cooling at a predetermined relation to thepouring of metal Within that portion. The diiiiculty heretoforeexperienced has resulted from the lack of a uniform temperature of themold along its length at the time it receives the metal. By my inventionthe desired uniform heat is obtained, the degree of .heat beingsusceptible to regulation, but always uniform longitudinally. Thechilling of the outervshell of the casted object is therefore to a largeextent non-existent in this type of cooling and the pipe may be removedfrom the mold and, without the annealing process now necessary, iscapable of immediate commercial use.

-While I have shown and described the :preferred embodiment of myinvention. Iv

wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precisedetails of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as itis apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, bythose skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of theinvention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary casting apparatus comprising a rotatable mold, a sprinklingmember for the mold, and means for varying the operative length of saidmember.

2. In combination with a revolving mold and a pouring trough, a coolingsystem comprising a cooling member and means coactmg with the trough tovary the operatlve length of said member.

3. A casting apparatus comprising a rotatable mold, a cooling member forthe mold and means to continuously extend the cooling at a predeterminedrate With respect. to a deposition of molten metal Within the mold.

4. In combination with a revolving mold and a pouring trough, a coolingsystem for the mold comprising'a sprinkling member and means within saidmember and courting with the trough to vary the operative length of saidsprinkling member.

5. In combination with avrotatable mold and a pouring trough, a coolingsystem comprising a member adapted to sprinkle a cooling medium upon themold, and a plunger slidable in said member as molten metal is depositedWithin the mol A 6. In combination with a -rot-atable mold and a troughadapted to pour molten metal ylong ,lfitudinally Within the mold, acooling system comprising a sprinkling member` a plunger slidablymounted in said member and y means coacting with the said trough forSliding the plunger.

7. In1 a centrifugal casting apparatus, a mold cooling system comprisinga cooling member, means for varying the operative length `of thecoolingmember, and actuating means for the last mentioned means wherebythe cooling coincideswith the deposition of molten metal within themold. j

8. In combination with a rotatable mold having a pouringtrough movablerelative t0 the mold, an apertured pipe positioned to disperse a coolinmedium on said mold, a movable plunger 1n said pipe and means forintroducing a cooling medium in said pipe.

, 9 In combination with a rotatable 4mold having a pouring troughmovable relatively to the mold, a pipe positioned to disperse a coolingmedium on said mold, a movable plunger in said pipe coacting with thetrough and means for introducing a cooling medium in said pipe. j

10. In combination with a centrifugal casting apparatus which comprisesa -rotary mold horizontally mounted, and a vpouring trough, a perforatedpipe mounted stationary with respect to the mold, means for supportingthe pipe horizontally adjacent said mold,

and adapted to disperse a cooling medium thereon, means for introducinga cooling trough that the portion of the' mold cooled` by the medium disersed from said apertured -pipe coincides wit the deposition of moltenmetal within the mold.

13. A cooling system for a centrifugal casting apparatus comprising acooling member, and means for varying the operative length of themember, said means comprising a plunger slidable in the cooling memberand operatively associated with a metal pouring device.

In testimon whereof I affix m .si nature.

F ANKG. CARR NG ON.

medium into said pipe adjacent one end A thereof, a plunger s'lidablymounted in said pipe' and means stationary with respectto the troughforsliding said plunger to vary the portion of said pipe to which saidmedium isadmitted. y

11. A centrifugal casting apparatus comprising a. rotatable mold, abearin member pipe being supported by a bearing member, A

or rotatably supporting one en of said mold, means for supportlng theother end ofy said mold, a pouring trough mechanism associated with`said rotatable mold, said mold and pouring trough being movablerelatively to each other, an apertured pipe positioned above saidrotatable mold, one end of said the other end of said pipe .beingsupported by a member associated with the base of said castingapparatus, means for introducing a cooling medium into one end of saidapertured pipe, .a plunger slidably mounted in' said plpe, a rodconnecting said plunger with a portion of saidA pouring trough mechanismfor varying the cooling capacity of said apertured pipe as metal fromsaid pouring trough is deposited in said mold. A 12. In combination witha centrifugal casting apparatus having arevolving mold and a pouringtrough associated therewith, a cooling system comprising an aperturedpipe positioned adjacent the mold and adapted todispcrse a coolingmedium thereon, means slidable within said apertured pipe to vary theeectiveness of said apertured pipe, said means being so associated withthe pouring

